Finding Gaby

Four winters in North Carolina. This Miami Girl is not having. And while I feel for those up north (and to the west) dealing with snow, I cannot with this 17*F whether we have at the moment. I AM COLD!! And while like the last years where I did not have the "right" gear for the cold, I am relatively warm. I'm still Fucking COLD! Now excuse me while I bundle up like whoa just to go to work.

Just got off the chat (who calls anyone anymore?) with my two 401K companies trying to figure out to transfer once balance to the other. It was overly complicated, but once the guy at Charles Schwab was able to figure out the rigamoroll that T Rowe Price was putting me through, we got things squared away. I hadn't realized just how much money I had in my 401K from my last job, 4 years and its a pretty big piggy bank. Sadly with this new job (over a year old), I don't make near to what I was making before, and I'm not 100% sure what my company's contributions are. In the year I've had this 401K, there are peanuts in the account. I'm sure when this transfer completes, it will look better. Hopefully, the idea in the long wrong is that I will have something to live off of when I retire if I retire. I don't know why in my mind, once I hit 50 the world (or at least mine) will end, and once there I'm screwed. It's a weird way to think, especially since ...

So I've been spending the last few days trying to figure out how to make this a more professional blog, and seeing what kind of blogs actually make money, turns out they are not personal blogs. Figures right? (I know that they're also not hosted on blogger, that's a given). I'm mostly just trying to scope out what the future of this blog will be. My plan of attack is as follows: Actually get into the habit of writing daily . I know that *that* sounds like a given, but seeing how everytime I start this blog I stop 5 days into it and not pick it up again for about 6 months or so. So if I can post something, every day for a few months, really make it into a habit, then I'll know that I'll be able to do this. Hence that 30-day challenge coming up in January. Along with whatever I want to write about, those will be my main focus for the time being. Get a new computer. While I love my laptop, I need a new computer. The old desktop that my ex gave me is a mess o...

Once upon a time, I used to like to cook. This was back when we lived in Miami. I would cook once a week or so to help out my mom. Funny, now that I think about it when I lived on my own with my now ex in Tallahassee I hated to cook. I ate out a lot then... Anyways, at some point in life, I liked to cook. With 2018 coming up fast, I'm making it a resolution to take up cooking again. The cooking this past year has mostly been left up to my dad, which is just fine, he's a great cook, but I think the family is up for a bit of a change. Since I work wonky retail hours, I'm not going to be able to cook every single day, so right now my focus is to just cook a large meal once a week. As I start to get back into the habit, then I'll expand how many times I cook. It's not only for me to get back into the habit, but mostly to help out at home. The status of our living situation is in a state of constant flux (well actually it's in a holding pattern right now, but we ...

This is not a Christmas Eve post. For continuity's sake, this is a December 23rd post, I'm just a little late in writing it. So today what I want to talk to myself about (because in all honesty, no one is reading this, like literally at this moment in time, this blog is getting ZERO visitors) is time management, or maybe just routines. I just had an interesting conversation with my parents and younger brother about our morning routines. Now my younger brother and mom tend to try to stick to a specific morning routine, everything is done the same way every morning regardless of the day. From when they have their coffee/breakfast to when they use the bathroom and whether or not they shower. My father and I, on the other hand, do not have a set routine. In fact, we tend to let our mornings come to us however we see fit. For example, this morning I woke up, had a bowl of cereal in the living room while looking out the window, I then got up, used the bathroom, then went back to...

So body image and weight have always been an issue with me, ever since I was little. I'm always trying to lose weight/fat/whatever you want to call it. Basically, I just want to be smaller. Well smaller in the sense that there is less fat on me. I'm short and small enough as it is, but as I gain weight I tend to get wider, and that's what I want to avoid. For a good 2 years, I was doing really well, lost a lot of weight, put on a good amount of muscle, and was finally at a point where I started to like what my body looked like. It wasn't perfect, but it was getting there. And my face looked thinner too which as someone with a pretty round (and flat, don't get me started on my profile) more weight just makes my face look rounder and flatter. Regardless, those two years were I was actively going to the gym with a trainer and burning those calories, I felt damn good. I could breathe better, I had more stamina, and my self-esteem was finally up! I need to get back the...

Man do I suck at this blogging business. Once upon a time I was really good at this. I had a Livejournal that I updated on the regular, so regular it was multiple times a day. But this blog? We're lucky if I update it once every 6 months. I know I started off the year saying that I was going to set myself a goal of 500+ words a day, I think that lasted around 6 days in total. Would it be to repetative to say that I'm going to do the same again with 2018? Well regardless if it is, I am going to attempt it. Even so I'm starting off with a 30 day challenge as well, just something to get me back in the habit of essentially talking to myself. I was so good at that... This is the challenge. I initially found it on Pintrest with no credit to the author, but managed to track it down to this blog , in which the author credits a now defunct blog. Regardless of who created it, we're going to try this in January. Not only will it get me back in the habit of writing, but...

Story Time- Back in 1994, I took a trip with my dad to Orlando. Through his job, he got tickets to a World Cup match. It was a match between the Netherlands and Ireland. I don't remember much of the match. It was hot, there were a lot of people, drums were being played, and at one point a giant banner was raised above our heads. I think it was Ireland's flag. But I know that my dad was having fun, and by proxy, I was too. Now the day before the match, we did something that I still remember today, and it is definitely in the top 5 favorite days of my life. My dad took me to MGM Studios (now Disney Hollywood Studios). And much like the soccer match, I don't have clear memories, but just snippets of feelings and images-  I remember seeing the Tower of Terror for the first time. It wasn't open yet, but they were running tests because I remember looking up and seeing the doors open and close on the 13th floor. I was one of those kids who LOVED the Twilight Zone, and t...

I clearly suck at this "posting once a day" deal, but I think I have an excuse? Summer classes started on Monday, and my life has been split between school and work. Seriously, my next day off isn't until the 24th. It's safe to say I'm busy. Busy working and busy studying, I'm determined to get the best grades possible, and with one week down and some grades already being recorded, I still have all A's. Other than that not much else has happened. OH, I KNOW! Here are some ramblings. So one of my biggest pet peeves is people thanking me for doing my job. I am a firm believer that a steady paycheck and a "Good job Gabs" is what anyone really needs in order to do their job, or at least that's what I like. I'm not one for constant "thank you's" like I'm doing you a favor for doing my job (that is unless you've asked me to do something outside of my responsibilities and then I do it and you say thanks, that is a dif...

Before I start, just want to make a quick note that I'm still listening to the Wonder Woman score on a loop. I have been since I got home to write yesterday's treatise, (seriously, I don't know whether to apologize or just laugh). So yeah, I'm liking the score, or maybe it's just the constant use of the theme. Anyways, tomorrow is the first day of school! YAY! I've lost count of how many of these "firsts" I've had, regardless, tomorrow is the first day of the last 8 weeks at my current school. Once that's done, it's on to who knows what. No seriously, I have no real idea what I'm doing after 8 weeks. Ok, well not really, or not entirely. I've got a few ideas, a couple things cooking, but nothing concrete. I'm just expecting myself to have to work harder and be stronger in order to survive whatever may come my way. So yeah, I have a biology class in the morning on campus, then about 5 mins to have lunch, then it's off to ...

First review and I'm not sure really where to start. Do I just completely fangirl out and just spend the next few paragraphs exclaiming how perfect this movie is, or do I take a more critical look at it and focus on the creation of the film as well as the social (and maybe political?) impact it is having? Or do I do some combination of both? Also how the heckles am I supposed to format this? Do I give you the readers a quick summary of the film, a list of the key players of who brought this film to life, and then delve into the good and bad of the film? I mean, that's how it's always been done, at least in every review I've ever read. Or do I just go where the words take me, and leave this as the incoherent ramblings of a fangirl who is trying to sound like she knows what's she's talking about in trying to sound overly critical? My style has always been a conversational one, albeit a one-sided conversation, so the latter choice it will be.  Good luck in f...

Cheese and crackers! I only last FIVE DAYS before I gave up!!! Ok, I really didn't give up- life just got busy. Between taking a full load of classes, plus working almost a full-time job, I could not find the time to sit down and write. And I know that sounds like an excuse, and it is, but I can't go back in time and fix it. I did go ahead and transfer my posts from the old typepad site and bring it over here, as this is a little more user-friendly. So hopefully now I'll remember to update. I don't want to go into too many specifics, but watch this space for news and updates. ~gabs

This will be my third winter in North Carolina, and yes I can assure you that I do miss the beautiful warm Miami winters. I am not a fan of being cold, or of wearing so many layers. But this is where I live now, and I'm just going to suck it up and deal with it. We're currently under a "Winter Storm Warning" which in a way reminds me of the tropical storm warnings back in Miami. Sometimes nothing would happen, other times the tropical storms were as bad as fully formed hurricanes. Here's hoping we just have a little snow that melts away fast. Why? I don't want to miss work, and I don't want to shovel the snow. Then again, I did get new snow boots, so I do kind of want to test them. The question is, should I have bought ice cleats? Remind come summer, when I start to complain lightly about the heat that I was freezing in January. Nothing much else happened today. Went to work, did some inventory prep, and then went home and read a bit.  I make a ...

I went running. Ok not really, it was more of a brisk walk. I'm not at the actual running stage YET.  Sadly my coworker/friend bailed on me (hungover was her excuse), so I dragged one of my brothers with me, only so that I could have someone to talk to. But I now have a better idea of what to expect from my body, as well as what to expect when training outside. The plan for the next two days is to make it to the gym after work, and then rest for about three days, and that's only because #1 the store is having inventory this weekend and #2 it's supposed to snow on Saturday. So two days gym, three days recovery of snow/inventory, and then I'm back at it again. I will run a Disney marathon next January, and I will level up to a more impressive form of Gabs. Let's see what else happened today. I was called into cover a closing shift at work, and that was pretty nice. It was a slow night, no major problems, plus it's a few more bucks in my pocket come pay day....

I am writing this while Typepad's login system is down (DAMN IT! I HAVE THINGS TO SAY!) as an e-mail to myself to then later post it here on my blog. I know that's not you guys need to know, but it clarifies things for me on this end.   OK, so other than snafu, let's see, what to write about today. I am still determined to make my 500+ words tonight.   Went to work today, had a pretty good day, and while it was busy, it was good. I work in customer service and deal with both the pleasure of ringing people up and dealing with crazy returns. But the customers I all deal with have all been incredible; we are all on the same page of making sure that the customer is outfitted for whatever activity they are going to try. And Happy customers make for happy employees. We're selling more than products; we're selling experience and knowledge. And it's awesome.   And speaking of awesome, I'm putting it out there, out into the ether, out for the universe to...

Ok before I get started on this post,  go and listen to this song . I am currently obsessed with it, I've had it on repeat for the last hour or so. There is something about it that just hits my heart in the right place that is both relaxing and enough to make me cry. Trust me; it's a good feeling. It's something about the chord composition, the harmonies, the lyrics, and that steady, unrelenting beat that all combined make something I can call a favorite. Plus add in the clever way he changes the emphasis on the wording of "I know" and then the bridge: I don't want to describe something that I'm not I don't want to hide the hopes that I have I want to enjoy what's meant to enjoy Not try to find slights and slurs to employ Say what you will I've a pretty sound mind to go I know I could not go Even if I had the eyes to try Guh, remember when I used to love music? Yeah, feels like a million years ago. You could cut my heart open and j...

Did I set myself up to write in this every day? Do I really have to keep that promise to myself? I'm actually quite tired, a little sleepy, and overall not feeling too well, so I just want to stay in bed and sleep, especially since I have tomorrow off from work. But I did set myself up to write something every day, and it's not like its hard. I could even take the laptop to bed and write in comfort instead of from my desk. But I like to make my life complicated, so I am sitting at my desk. And I'm cold. Ok, it is the first day of the new year. What has happened? Nothing. Like I said, I'm tired, cold (didn't mention that one?), sleepy, and thanks to being a girl, I have horrible cramps, which many co-workers mistook as being hungover.  If only. I think I would welcome a hangover to the terrible pain of period cramp. I know, too much information. Somewhere in here, this is the argument to erase the stigma of a woman's menstrual cycle, but again, I'm tired...